J45 vs Hummingbird

[renin71]

I know that they are different guitars and have similar specs, but what is the sound difference between say a j45 standard and a Hummingbird modern classic ?

Also the sound difference between a J45 TRue Vintage and a Hummingbird TV?

thanks..

[j45nick]

You're going to get replies here that are similar to what you would get if someone were asked to explain the difference between cabernet sauvignon and pinot noir. Everyone reads his own interpretation into the verbal description of tonal differences, as they do with taste.

 

The only real way to figure out which one floats your boat is to try all four guitars yourself, and see which best fits with the music you like to play.

 

You're gonna find love for all of those guitars here.

[Mojorule]

If in doubt, turn to Tony the Pony.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5gnOm-7v4s

 

Mind you, I'd ignore his descriptions of the tone and just listen to the guitars. I'm not sure I'd call a J45 mellower than a Hummingbird. Listen to as many samples of both as possible and work out your own comparison notes. FWIW, I'm not sure that Tony's J45 is either the most typical or most characterful example of its ilk.

[j45nick]

If in doubt, turn to Tony the Pony.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5gnOm-7v4s

 

Mind you, I'd ignore his descriptions of the tone and just listen to the guitars. I'm not sure I'd call a J45 mellower than a Hummingbird. Listen to as many samples of both as possible and work out your own comparison notes. FWIW, I'm not sure that Tony's J45 is either the most typical or most characterful example of its ilk.

 

 

I agree on all counts, but most specifically on the fact that this particular J-45 doesn't have an awful lot of character compared to many I've played.

[renin71]

appreciate the input, however very hard to find stores that have all the models. I have played one J45 TV vs J45 standard, and the TV was lighter, and more resosant and you could clearly hear each string.

never did a Hummingbird MC vs TV.

I think I like the Hummingbirds as they appear a bit brighter, and am a sucker for the neck binding and parellogram inlays....

[Mojorule]

appreciate the input, however very hard to find stores that have all the models. I have played one J45 TV vs J45 standard, and the TV was lighter, and more resosant and you could clearly hear each string.

never did a Hummingbird MC vs TV.

I think I like the Hummingbirds as they appear a bit brighter, and am a sucker for the neck binding and parellogram inlays....

 

Is that brighter in tone or colour? If you end up liking the sound of J45s more on average, but still want neck binding and parallelograms, then you shouldn't forget the Southern Jumbo.

 

Here's a really great SJ - albeit a very old one with no neck binding. Another recording that we owe to JT.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWOO2NaZ8l0

[renin71]

sound.....

[j45nick]

I have played one J45 TV vs J45 standard, and the TV was lighter, and more resosant and you could clearly hear each string.

never did a Hummingbird MC vs TV.

I think I like the Hummingbirds as they appear a bit brighter, and am a sucker for the neck binding and parellogram inlays....

 

If you liked that J-45 TV, but like the bling of the 'bird, get yourself a Southern Jumbo TV. It's the best of both worlds.

 

The SJ in this picture isn't a TV, but you get the idea..... The body and soul of a J-45, the bling of the 'bird.

 

[renin71]

that is nice, I like the banner inlay at the top of the fretboard.. is it still mahogany sides or is it maple?

[MissouriPicker]

Nice comparison, but the only time I would say this particular J45 was more mellow than "the bird" was in the last clip. I own both guitars and would find it very difficult to pick one over the other. The Hummingbird is a guitar I've always wanted. My goal was to buy one. The J45 was never seriously on my radar until by chance I saw it taken out of the box. I played it and took it home. I do think my Hummingbird has more punch than my J45, but again, that's likely because it is a full-sized square-shouldered dreadnought. My particular J45 actually is more mellow (how I hear the difference in tone) than "the bird." Not so much with volume, but with tone. The J45 seems to be softer. Both guitars are very easy-to-play and sound great unplugged or plugged-in. I kind of agree with J45Nick--there's something a bit different with this J45's sound. It sounds great, but to my ears it's tone should be more subtle than "the bird." Naturally, in these kind of comparisons, twenty people can all hear the same thing and describe it twenty different ways.

[j45nick]

that is nice, I like the banner inlay at the top of the fretboard.. is it still mahogany sides or is it maple?

 

It is mahogany back and sides, red spruce top, much like the J-45 TV you like. Basically, only the bling is different.

[j45nick]

Naturally, in these kind of comparisons, twenty people can all hear the same thing and describe it twenty different ways.

 

 

And there you have it in a nutshell, which makes it so hard to buy a guitar based on a description of the tone. Your idea of "bright" may be my idea of "thin and shrill". Even the way sound clips are recorded can have a significant impact on perceived tone.

 

Generally speaking, the Music Villa videos are pretty good in terms of sound recording, but you need to listen to them on/through decent equipment to get a valid idea. Even then, the audio files generally seem quite compressed, which alters the tone as well.

[EuroAussie]

Here's my Hummingbird True Vintage and Aaron Lewis SJ, which is similar to a J-45TV.

 

I find the J-45 / SJ more punchier, with a razor like midrange, while the Bird more mellow, stronger bass.

 

Both are greaat, but my overall leaning is towards the slope Gibsons.

 

Excuse the crappy singing, I dont normally venture down that path ..

 

Good luck with your choice, let us know how you decide.

 

 

[Mojorule]

But will the bird growl like this (more typical*, I think) J45?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OJpgzc34-c

 

* Than Tony's that is, not Ozmeister's. I really liked the singing on Hurt by the way EA - eerily reminiscent of Cash.

[j45nick]

I really liked the singing on Hurt by the way EA - eerily reminiscent of Cash.

 

 

My thoughts exactly.

[Mojorule]

If you can put up with even crappier singing, some muffed playing, and what Nick will call heavy compression, you can make out the bark of a Woody Guthrie Southern Jumbo. It's basically a J45 Standard with different appointments - again no neck binding, but it has the parallelograms and the banner.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuWdZEB_S5E

 

Some fingerpicking to show its mellower side:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMuI0DSL5l0

[j45nick]

If you can put up with even crappier singing, some muffed playing, and what Nick will call heavy compression, you can make out the bark of a Woody Guthrie Southern Jumbo. It's basically a J45 Standard with different appointments - again no neck binding, but it has the parallelograms and the banner.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuWdZEB_S5E

 

 

 

Mojo, you need yourself a big acoustic archtop to play "All of Me" in that style! That's what they were made for.

 

Nice playing and singing in any case......

[EuroAussie]

I think the second counry blues track is a great example of a J-45, you just will not be able to get that kind of tone with the Bird, and its right on the money !

 

Nice picking there Mojo

[tpbiii]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGU9hF5G5xk

 

Pairwise comparison of 1962 mahogany HB and 1942/43 mahogany SJ.

 

Let's pick,

 

-Tom

[renin71]

wow! thanks for all the clips! will have to hunt down a TV hummingbird and eventually make a decision!

[Rambler]

I think I like the Hummingbirds as they appear a bit brighter

Apologies if someone already touched on this, but, have owned both don't buy it. A square [dreadnaught] box favors low end frequencies. The slope shoulder is more balanced, s more high end shines through. The slope J is one of the best all round gits out there. The Bird foes one thing great: chuga-chuga rock chords. 2 words: Pink Houses. And 3 more: Street Fighting Man. Need inlays, but want an all-roudner? 2 more words: Southern Jumbo.

[Rambler]

Here's my Hummingbird True Vintage and Aaron Lewis SJ, which is similar to a J-45TV.I find the J-45 / SJ more punchier, with a razor like midrange, while the Bird more mellow, stronger bass.

As I was saying. Hey, and thanks for the videos (+1)

[michaeljohnr]

I agree on all counts, but most specifically on the fact that this particular J-45 doesn't have an awful lot of character compared to many I've played.

 

 

I bought that J45 about a year ago.

 

It needed a bone nut to liven it up and sounds great now!

 

It's my avatar on the forum.

[bram99]

You cant go wrong with a J45TV in my mind. I prefer the simple appointments of the J-45 over the others discussed in this thread.

 

When i was in the market for one a couple of years ago, I was lucky because I found a shop that had six J45TVs to choose from. I played about the same number of standard J-45s. For me none of the J45 standards compared to any of the J-45TVs.....i played each of the TVs over a couple of days and had it narrowed down to two....after all that the guy at the shop told me he did have another in the back room....I said bring it out...5 minutes later and I knew it was the one. Like others here have said, try a bunch before you buy.

 

Here is Tony on J45TV....

 

[Mojorule]

I bought that J45 about a year ago.

 

It needed a bone nut to liven it up and sounds great now!

 

It's my avatar on the forum.

 

I guess it's been played in a fair bit too, which presumably it hadn't been when Tony filmed it. Would love to hear how it sounds now. Any samples?